According to excerpts of an interview to appear in Friday's Jeusalem Post, PM Sharon stated that "If you ask me whether in Beit El there will not be Jews," Sharon said, "no, Jews will live there." Asked if they will continue to live in Beit El and Shilo under Israeli sovereignty, he replied, "Do you see a possibility of Jews living under Arab sovereignty, I'm asking you, do you see that possibility?" Sharon claimed that Beit El and Shilo are not candidates for dismantling.

Of course, former PM Barak once promised that Beit El and Ofra would never be given up, and then proceeded to offer a withdrawal that included those areas. Still, Sharon's latest interview must be taken - very cautiously of course - as a positive development.